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1 Corinthians 9:12
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10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that ahe who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.  
11 aIf we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?  
12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? aNevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things blest we hinder the gospel of Christ.  
13 aDo you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the btemple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?  
14 Even so athe Lord has commanded bthat those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.  
15 But aI have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for bit would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.  
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for anecessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!  
17 For if I do this willingly, aI have a reward; but if against my will, bI have been entrusted with a stewardship.  
18 What is my reward then? That awhen I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel1 of Christ without charge, that I bmay not abuse my authority in the gospel.  

Serving All Men

19 For though I am afree from all men, bI have made myself a servant to all, cthat I might win the more;  
20 and ato the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the1 law, that I might win those who are under the law;  
21 ato bthose who are without law, as without law c(not being without law toward God, but under2 law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;  
22 ato the weak I became1 as weak, that I might win the weak. bI have become all things to all men, cthat I might by all means save some.  
23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Striving for a Crown

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? aRun in such a way that you may1 obtain it.  
25 And everyone who competes for the prize1 is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for aan imperishable crown.  
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< 1 Corinthians 9:11   1 Corinthians 9:13 >>


1 Corinthians 9:12

If others - Other teachers living with you. There can be no doubt that the teachers in Corinth urged this right, and received a support.

Be partakers of this power - Of this right to a support and maintenance.

Are not we rather - We the apostles; we who have labored for your conversion; who have founded your church; who have been the first, and the most laborious in instructing you, and imparting to you spiritual blessings? Have not we a better claim than they?.

Nevertheless we have not used this power - We have not urged this claim; we have chosen to forego this right, and to labor for our own support. The reason why they had done this, he states in the subsequent part of the chapter; see II Corinthians 11:7-9; II Corinthians 12:14; compare Acts 18:3; Acts 20:34-35.

But suffer all things - Endure all privations and hardships; we subject ourselves to poverty, want, hunger, thirst, nakedness, rather than urge a "claim" on you, and thus leave the suspicion that we are actuated by mercenary motives. The word used here ( ́ stegomen suffer) means properly "to cover," to keep off, as rain, etc., and then "to contain, to sustain, tolerate, endure." Here it means to bear, or endure all hardships; compare the notes at I Corinthians 4:11-13.

Lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ - Paul here states the reason why he had not urged a claim to support in preaching the gospel. It was not because he was not entitled to a full support, but it was that by denying himself of this right he could do good, and avoid some evil consequences which would have resulted if he had strenuously urged it. His conduct therefore in this was just one illustration of the principle on which he said I Corinthians 8:13 he would always act; a readiness to deny himself of things lawful, if by that he could promote the welfare of others. The reasons why his urging this claim might have hindered the gospel may have been many:

(1) It might have exposed him and the ministry generally to the charge of being mercenary.

(2) It would have prevented his presenting in bold relief the fact that he was bound to preach the gospel at all events, and that he was actuated in it by a simple conviction of its truth.

(3) It might have alienated many minds who might otherwise have been led to embrace it.

(4) It would have prevented the exercise of self-denial in him, and the benefits which resulted from that self-denial, etc., I Corinthians 9:17-18, I Corinthians 9:23, I Corinthians 9:27.




Other Barnes' Notes entries containing 1 Corinthians 9:12:

Matthew 10:8
Acts 6:4
Acts 20:33
1 Corinthians 9:6
1 Corinthians 9:7
1 Corinthians 13:7
2 Corinthians 11:8
2 Corinthians 12:13
Galatians 6:6
1 Thessalonians 2:6
1 Thessalonians 3:1
2 Thessalonians 3:9

 

<< 1 Corinthians 9:11   1 Corinthians 9:13 >>

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